Senior Manager Strategic Sourcing

Lindt & Sprüngli (Canada), Inc•Kansas City, MO

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Manager, Transportation Strategic Sourcing & Procurement is accountable for the development, execution, and governance of Lindt & Sprüngli North America’s enterprise transportation procurement strategy across all modes, systems, and services. This role owns carrier sourcing, contract negotiations, supplier performance management, and financial stewardship for $100M+ in annual transportation spend, ensuring service excellence, cost optimization, and supply chain resiliency. Acting as the primary authority for transportation procurement, this role partners closely with Transportation Operations, Finance, Sales, and external providers to align commercial strategies with operational and customer requirements. The Senior Manager serves as the escalation point for supplier performance, contractual compliance, and transportation cost variances, while providing market intelligence and insights to senior leadership.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Transportation, Finance, or related field
8+ years of progressive experience in transportation, logistics, strategic sourcing, procurement, or supply chain
Demonstrated experience managing large, complex transportation spend portfolios ($50M+)
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel; strong data analysis and financial modeling capability
Proven ability to influence cross functional leaders and present insights at the executive level
Strong organizational, prioritization, and problem solving skills
Ability to travel up to 15%

Nice To Haves

Masters’ degree, preferably in Business, Transportation, or Supply Chain
Strong negotiation and problem-solving skills
Financial acumen and strong analytical skills
Experience with scorecards/metrics

Responsibilities

Own development and execution of annual transportation budgets, sourcing strategies, and savings initiatives within an established Performance Control System
Lead all carrier sourcing, RFPs, negotiations, and award decisions, balancing total landed cost, service performance, and risk mitigation
Govern freight rate structures, accessorials, and contract compliance to ensure budget adherence and financial transparency
Provide executive level analysis of transportation cost drivers, variances, and market conditions
Establish and maintain carrier qualification standards, onboarding processes, and contractual performance expectations
Lead supplier performance management through scorecards, service reviews, and corrective action plans
Ensure carriers meet contractual commitments related to capacity, seasonality, service, and volume allocation
Serve as escalation authority for carrier and operational issues impacting contractual terms or service levels
Oversee rate loading, routing authorizations, and audit readiness within the Transportation Management System
Drive freight audit, payment reconciliation, exception management, and claims resolution processes
Conduct ongoing market analysis, freight studies, and capacity assessments to inform sourcing strategies
Develop and enhance transportation dashboards, KPIs, and reporting for leadership visibility
Partner with Sales and Finance to deliver accurate freight economics, customer shipping models, and pricing support
Collaborate cross functionally to ensure transportation strategies align with network design, plant operations, and customer delivery requirements
Act as the single point of accountability for transportation procurement inquiries from internal stakeholders and external partners
Lead, mentor, and develop team members through coaching, training, and performance management
Foster a culture of continuous improvement, analytical rigor, and enterprise first decision making
Identify and implement process improvements that enhance efficiency, productivity, and service quality